As Nora Jo Fades Away: Confessions of a Caregiver: A Memoir Book

Dementia distilled,

Most readers searching for some support in coping with being a caregiver turn to books that discuss exercises, ways to disrupt the progression of early to late to terminal dementia, signs that there may be others out there who are facing the same (embarrassing) guilt feelings of being saddled with the expected family duty of caring for the elderly. Yes, those books may help redesign a safe house, understand the phases of memory lapse and how to recover as much of it as possible, but few, if any, of those books have the courage to be honest about the stress and agony and ultimate relief (accompanied by a grief) when the demented relative finally `leaves'.

What Lisa Cerasoli does in this exceptionally well-written, at times hilarious book is invite us to accompany her as she tends to her grandmother whose mentation has been diminished and altered into a comic book style of living. Alzheimer's - it seems to be the destiny of us all as we approach the tarnished version of the Golden Years. And in addition to enjoying the writing of how Lisa Cerasoli coped with Nora Jo's diminishing mental rationality and responses we are introduced to how caring for someone who is no longer able to care for themselves can take on a whole new aspect.

At the heart of every drama is comedy - a recipe playwrights have known for centuries, and that is the technique our author uses in relating this memoir. Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to laugh at the misguided antics dementia in relatives spring on our lives - how else can we survive with forming a loathing of the tasks of dealing with poop in odd places, behaviors that are best hidden behind curtains. And while Cerasoli keeps us informed as to her own responses to the vagaries of day to day care giving, she also has the sensitivity to look into the mind of Nora Lo and present a full picture of how the dementia affects the demented.

At the end of book is a scrapbook of photographs of her family and the stages when Nora Jo was pre-demented, and in addition to that tender addition she attaches some brief biographies written by others who have coped with the elderly dwindling mind. Yes, there is great entertainment in the fact that Lisa Cerasoli writes so well, but there is also a large dollop of encouragement for those who are in the current role of caregiver - or the future role of one being cared for!

Grady Harp